NATIONAL PRESS RELEASE ON “ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AND INCREASED PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN AFRICA” RELEASED BY CBD-NGO FORUM SPONSORED BY OXFAM-GB WITH SUPPORT FROM AUSTRIAN CORPORATION

BACKGROUND

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) is a universal reality existing in all societies regardless of income, class and culture. SGBV occurs in all societies of the world, within the home or in the wider community and it affects both gender, especially women and girls disproportionately.  The world we live in is characterized with violence against both gender.  This is universally present in many forms like wife battering, sexual assault and abuse, female genital mutilation and rape, in war and peacetime, etc.  Sexual and Gender-based violence is the fate of millions of both gender all over the world and these are affecting their productivity both in the homes, communities and places of work. However, all us must be united to put a final stop to this barbaric act.

SGBV is especially problematic in the context of complex emergencies and natural disasters, where women and children are often targeted for abuse, and are the most vulnerable to exploitation, violence and abuse simply because of their gender, age and status in the society. According to UN Women, SGBV causes more death and disability for women and girls between the ages of 15 and 44, than do cancer, traffic accidents, malaria and war combined. At least 1 in 3 of the world’s female population has been either physically or sexually abused at some time in her life. Although in most countries little research has been conducted on the problem, available data suggest that in some countries nearly 1 in 4 women may experience sexual violence by an intimate partner, and up to 1/3 of adolescent girls report their first sexual experience as being forced.

Therefore, to save lives and maximize protection, a minimum set of activities must be carried out in a coordinated manner to prevent and respond to SGBV from the earliest stages of an emergency. The Victims (especially the survivors) of SGBV need assistance to cope with its harmful consequences. (Note: Not all the victims eventually survived the tragedy of SGBV) However, the survivors may need health care, psychological and social support, security, and legal redress. At the same time, prevention activities must be put in place to address causes and contributing factors to SGBV in the setting. Prevention and response to SGBV therefore require coordinated action from actors from many sectors and agencies.

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence(SGBV): is defined any act of violence that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women; including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.

(i)                  COMMON TYPES/ EXAMPLES OF SGBV

·         female infanticide,

·         incest,

·         sex tourism,

·         child prostitution/ forced prostitution,

·         rape,

·         partner violence,

·         psychological abuse,

·         sexual harassment,

·         sexual abuse

·         forced marriage,

·         Under-age marriage,

·         Widowhood rites,

·         Male child preference

·         trafficking in women and girls for sex trade,

·         Inequality to Access to Education

(ii)                LEVELS OF SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

·         Home or family level,

·         Community level

·         State level.

Violence within the Home:  domestic violence is the most prevalent form of sexual and gender-based violence.  Psychological abuse always accompanies physical abuse and majority of women abused by their partners are abused many times. Physical, sexual and psychological violence against girls/women within a couple and in the family consists of battery, sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women and girls, marital rape, dowry-related violence, incest, non-spousal violence like a son’s violence against his mother and violence related to exploitation and deprivation of freedom. A culture of silence surrounds cases of violence against women in most countries like Nigeria, making it difficult to get a true picture of its extent. 

Violence against both gender within the General Community: Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community include battery, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and intimidation in school or work, forced treatments and abusive medication, the exploitation and commercialization of women’s bodies which is related to increased poverty that is mainly a result of unbridled economic liberalism.  These types of violence occurring within the general community also include contraception imposed on women by constraints or force, forced sterilization or abortions, selective abortion of female foetuses and female infanticide.

Violence Against both Gender Perpetrated by the State: Physical, sexual and psychological violence are too often perpetrated or tolerated by states that priorities custom or tradition over the respect of fundamental freedom.  In some countries, the rise of religious fundamentalism is extremely disturbing as regards women’s right to their economic autonomy and their freedom of choice.  The social exclusion of women is so great that it constitutes a new form of apartheid.  Women are considered second class beings, of lesser value, deprived of their fundamental rights.  Violence against women is also exercised as a weapon of war in situations of armed conflict.  It has many forms including murder, rape, sexual slavery, hostage taking and forced pregnancy

(iii)              MOST VULNERABLE GROUPS OF SGBV

                    (either female or male)

·         Displaced Persons (either IDPs or EDPs )

·         ^mIDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) ⁿEDPs (Externally Displaced People)

·         Migrants

·         Occupants of Communities with Constant Attack Cases

·         Children (0- 18yrs)

·         Adolescents (10-19yrs)

·         Orphans Trafficked Children

·         Refugees or those living under foreign occupation.

·         Victims of Insurgency attacks

·         Victims of Robbery attacks

·         Victims of Kidnappers

·         Persons with Disability

(iv)                EFFECTS OF SGBV ON THE VICTIMS

·         Physical Damage

·         Death

·         Psychological Trauma. 

·         Sexually Transmitted Infections

·         Respiratory Diseases

·         Suicide  

·         Unplanned Pregnancy

·         Loss of life treasure (for instance, Virginity)

·         Drug Addiction

(v)                PREDISPOSING FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SGBV

·         Patriarchal Traditional attitudes

·         Gender Stereotype (labelling)

·         Gender Inequality

·         Financial Insecurity

·         Cultural beliefs

·         Community Space

PURPOSE OF THE PRESS RELEASE:

The purpose of this Press release is to remind every individuals , policy makers, law enforcements agents, groups and associations(local and national/international) of varieties existing laws , and call for its full enforcement at all levels.

(i)             CEDAW (Convention on Eradication of all forms of Discrimination Against Women)

Article 6: Countries say no to the trafficking and exploitation of the women

Countries must take measures to stop trafficking of women and their exploitation for prostitution.

Article 7: Political rights of women are recognised

Countries take measures to ensure that women have the same rights as men in the political as well as public life of their country.

Article 14: Women in rural communities have the same rights as women in urban areas

Countries must take measures that will enable women in rural communities participate, just as men, in decision making and implementation of development programmes of their areas.

For that reason, women must actively participate in village committee development activities or any other village or community group by giving their opinion and defending their ideas on issues that relate to the development of their area.

Article 15: Women have the right to properties

Men and women are equal before the law. Women have the right to practice and enjoy all the rights in the same way as men. Countries recognise that, just as men, women have the right to property, to sign contracts and to manage estates. They clearly state that any agreement or private business that deprives women of their quality to act as a person who has rights is invalid. Women are free to go wherever they want to and choose their residence or home.

Article 16: Women have the same rights as men as far as marriage is concerned.

For that reason, parents must not impose a husband on their daughter or disagree with her choice to marry her desired husband. Moreover, if in the course of the marriage, the husband dies before the wife, she is under no obligation to remarry from within her deceased husband’s family.

Women can therefore base on the adulterous ground of their husband to obtain a divorce. This right must be recognised and protected by the law. Just as the man, the woman has the right to look after the children in the process of a divorce.

(ii)            UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security

ü  Calls on all parties to armed conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse.

ü  Emphasizes the responsibilities of all states to put an end to impunity and to prosecute those responsible for genocide crimes, including those related to sexual and other forms of violence against women and girls.

(iii)              Summary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action January 1996

All women’s rights are human rights. Compulsory 35% affirmative action.

(iv)          Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full &productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build  effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

(v)                Fundamental Human Rights (Chapter 4, Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria)

 ‘Human rights are entitlements due to every individual by virtue of the fact that she/he is a human being. These entitlements are irrespective of social status, economic power, sex, disability, religion, ethnicity, race, health and education status’.    

PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS

a.     Universal:

Human rights are applicable, everywhere and at all times

b.     Interdependent and Interrelated:

All rights are linked e.g. right to education is linked to right to health and vice versa

c.     Accountability:

 Countries and individuals have responsibility to promote and respect human rights as well as report violations

d.     Indivisible:

All rights must be fulfilled with the exemption of none.

EXAMPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS

a. Survival rights

§  The right to life

§  The right to health care

§  Right to adequate nutrition

b. Development rights

—  Right to education

—  Right to freedom of thought and religion

—  Right to freedom of speech

—  Right to employment

—  The right to social interaction

c. Protection rights

—  Right to shelter

—  Right to form families

—  The right to dignity

—  The right to protection against discrimination

—  The right to identity

d. Participation rights

—  Right to speech and expression

—  The right to freedom of movement

—  Right to social interaction

(vi)          ICC (International Criminal Court)

Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes-June 2014

The 44Page policy paper outlined the process of securing desired justice on any case related to Sexual and Gender-Based Crimes at ICC.

(vii)         OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)

Framework for Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

Ü  First and foremost, we must protect civilians:

Ü  Hold States responsible

Ü  Strengthen prevention strategies:

Ü  Coordinate a multi-sectoral response:

Ü  Speak out against gender based-violence in emergencies:

Ü  Ensure care for survivors

Current Effort of CBD-NGO Forum sponsored by Oxfam-GB supported by Austrian Corporation

-       On Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence in 9 Strategic Communities of Plateau State

THE 9 COMMUNITIES (WASE LGA-1.Wase, 2.Marvo , 3.Kadarko , RIYOM LGA-4.Riyom , 5.Ganawuri , 6. Jol , JOS-NORTH- 7.Angwa-Rogo, 8. Angwa-Rukuba ,9.Tudun-Wada)

1)    Aggressive mobilisation of Community Gatekeepers and Stakeholders

2)    Partnership and Networking with key agencies and organisations

3)    Formation Community Response Groups

4)    Community Sensitisation Seminars for all residents of the benefitting communities.

5)    Schools intervention strategy: (a) School sensitisation Seminars and Inauguration of SGBV Clubs

       (b) School Training of SGBV Clubs Peer Leaders

       (c) Regular bi-weekly School  SGBV Peer Sessions

       (d ) Monthly Reporting and Review meetings of SGBV Peer Sessions.

Recommendation:

®  Sustainable Prevention and Response: Expanding local NGO services to effectively address the needs of women and girls in conflict areas, through physical and psychological treatment, legal counsel, and protection measures, including access to safe houses.

®  Sustainable Community Engagement: Supporting civil society efforts to engage with men and boys to combat violence against women and girls. It is important to change underlying social attitudes that perpetuate violence through dialogues with religious leaders, politicians, military officials, and students.

®  Increased Capacity Building: Strengthening grassroots NGOs to further local judicial and law enforcement education and training, coordination of development efforts, and public advocacy aimed at preventing violence against women and girls.